Homesick, what is the definition of homesick? According to Webster it’s experiencing a longing for one’s home during a period of absence from it. Now I’m sure we’ve all felt this longing once or twice in our lives. Longing for home means it meant something to you, it moulded you in one way or another and it also means you bring a piece of home with you, wherever you go. It’s quite beautiful really.

Our second guest in our homesick project series is photographer and social media expert, Emily Dyan Ibarra. Emily, a fellow American like myself, misses the familiarities of home but loves the European lifestyle, it’s ease, and openness. We chat about her background, her photography photographing parkour athletes, her experience here in Frankfurt and what she misses about home.

Read on to find out more about this uber cool photographer.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF? WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?

I fell in love with photography as a child. My grandfather was a hobbyist photographer and being the first grandchild, I was photographed a lot. He passed away when I was 5, but I was given his SLR camera when I was 12 years old. I also was very active as a kid. I started gymnastics at 3 years old, become a competitive gymnast by 8 years old, started springboard diving in college and danced and did cheerleading in-between. So I was both active and creative growing up.

I started taking photography more seriously in college. I was assisting commercial photographers and applying everything I was learning to my friends. My friends all happened to be in bands, this was when Myspace was getting big, and photos were in demand, so this grew my reach as more bands wanted images. I spent my twenties hanging out with musicians and touring with bands. It was amazing. This eventually led me to Los Angeles. After answering a craigslist ad, I was introduced to the world of parkour and freerunning. My acrobatics background really helped from behind the camera and sometimes just getting from location to location.

YOU’RE A PHOTOGRAPHER, A FILMMAKER AND YOU ALSO WORK WITH YOUR HUSBAND, THE GREAT JASON PAUL. TELL US ABOUT THIS?

Boyfriend. We aren’t married, but we do have a child together and creatively work together. He is my muse, lover, co-parent, and technically my boss.  I do social media and marketing for his parkour clothing brand, Team Farang. I was in LA when I met Jason through mutual friends. We had a blast shooting and traveling the world together for 5 years before deciding to start a family. We intended to make Frankfurt our home base and keep traveling with our daughter, but this pandemic has altered our plans so far. However, I am very grateful to be sorted in Germany.

HOW HAS MOVING TO FRANKFURT CHANGED YOU? 

I own more shoes than I ever have, probably since high school. I try to be a minimalist but having a home generally changes you when you’ve been on the road for so long.

It’s been a lot of adulting to get everything sorted to German standards but it’s been worth it. I feel rooted and stable. Also, I don’t feel like I have to fear something happening like getting injured or sick and being in debt for the rest of my life. I feel like I have less worry than I would even if I was doing the same thing in the USA.

WHAT OBSTACLES HAVE YOU FACED SINCE LIVING HERE IN FRANKFURT? WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR VICTORIES?

Colder weather is a challenge for me since I grew up in California. During the sweltering days of summer the lack of air conditioning. Mild obstacles, I know.  I still stress out when I have to quickly pack my groceries at the store, and I am totally reliant on Jason to answer my mail and top up my phone monthly. I had to learn the hard way that your name has to be on your mailbox for documents to arrive.  And I’m getting over the fact that just because we didn’t become instant friends doesn’t mean you’ll never be best friends, eventually, in Germany.

I feel like not having a car is a victory. Whenever I arrive at my destination on my own and on time is a victory for me personally. The food quality is a victory and the ability to shop at some of these farmer markets and local butchers and farms. I’m a bit obsessed with food.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE JUST MOVED TO FRANKFURT?

The best advice I’ve received was from an uber driver in San Francisco, “don’t try to rebuild the life you had somewhere else. Make it new and its own. ” This has truly helped me appreciate so many things that I didn’t have in California, instead of dwelling on what I couldn’t recreate. For example, in about 5 minutes, I can walk to get my hair cut, get a cup of coffee, and eat a pastry. Local groceries are driven and sold to me out of a truck. I sit down and order lasagna ice cream. These are things I didn’t have in California.

WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE SPOT IN FRANKFURT?

I love coffee shops because wherever I travel, that is how I explore: Soulmate, Espresso Espresso, Holy Cross, Sugar Mama, Hoppenworth & Ploch, Ohiem, Aniis, Melhwassersalz, Brühmarkt, Pause. You have already covered most of these in The Frankfurt Edit, LOL.

I found Thai and Turf Steakhouse is open really late for Geman standards, and it was a lifestyle during my pregnancy.

Right now, I love delivery from Stadt Salat and Jing Jing Asia Restaurant.

I know this wasn’t a dining question, but I made it into one.

coffee shop frankfurt
Holy Cross
Oheim
Aniis
Espresso espresso

FOR THOSE VISITING OR NEW TO FRANKFURT, WHERE WOULD YOU TELL THEM TO GO?

I would tell them to go to the flea market by the river on Saturdays. It can be exciting to see things that you might not see from your own country. You can get a warm orange juice or a coffee and a crepe, walk around, maybe have a frikadelle from the Schwenker and check out a few museums.  The Palmengarten and walking around Kleinmarkthalle for lunch.  If they come in the summer, having a picnic at the swimming parks was so cool to me, like a cross between a wholesome version of raging waters and our neighborhood cabana club. And sitting out by the river or hanging out by the skatepark.

WHAT DO YOU MISS, ABOUT HOME? AND ALL THE PLACES YOU HAVE TRAVELLED TOO?

I miss my family. I miss the burritos. I miss Wholefoods and Target; I miss the convenience of it all and feeling familiarity. I miss going to the beach, and I miss being in the desert; I love Joshua Tree. I miss the vending machines in Japan and the chaos and friendliness of Bangkok.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MISSING HERE IN FRANKFURT?

Frankfurt is missing buttered, salted popcorn in their movie theaters.

Kombucha on tap. And a better selection of coconut water.

IS THERE A PLACE HERE IN FRANKFURT THAT REMINDS YOU OF HOME?

No, but sometimes i go to McDonald’s just to taste something nostalgic.

For more stories like this check out THE HOMESICK PROJECT